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Chapter Two

The Context of It All

Part One

CONTEXTUALIZING CONTEXT - Food chains and carrying capacity? Understand the context by watching the story below.

Read Story Instead

Prefer reading instead? Here's the text version of your lesson.

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Questions & Activities

Reflect on your lesson with short activities, or by exploring referenced articles, featured podcasts, term definitions, and more!

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Featured Hot Take

We all need a little context. How to get it? Pollsters help! And few are as informed as Shachi Kurl, the Executive Director of the Angus Reid Institute. She took time away from analyzing the news – and our opinions on the news – to join us in conversation.

We’re featuring this podcast across all five Nature Labs subjects. You might not like every course you take in school, but they are all related. By listening to this podcast, hopefully you’ll better understand why.

More on Shachi Kurl

Reflection

  • What did you learn from Shachi's story?
  • Does polling inform better research? Does it help create more empathy for those we disagree with?
  • How valuable is it to have unbiased, impartial research to better understand public opinion, as scientists and as citizens?
  • Like science, do you believe polling to be unbiased, or can the questions that drive the research be loaded or leading, helping create answers that reinforce certain perspectives?
  • How do we create more movements that unify, rather than divide? Can science help?

Did this story leave you with a question? 

Ask a scientist, get an answer!
The best questions will be answered by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s scientists on video just for you! Make sure you include your name and school.

Part Two

THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPTS YOU NEED TO LEARN IN THIS CLASS. YOUR TEACHER WILL SELECT WHICH ACTIVITIES YOU NEED TO COMPLETE BELOW.

Defining Your Community

Who are your people? Why do you need them? Get to know yourself and your communities.

Explore

Mapping Biodiversity

What's your natural context? Find and map the biodiversity hotspots in your community.

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Understanding Your Views

How has your upbringing shaped who you are? Why is it important to understand the context of others?

Begin

What's Your Context?

How do you think we should balance people and nature? Start brainstorming! * Recommended

Brainstorm

Core Concepts

Learn more about this chapter's core concepts: food chains and carrying capacities.

Learn

Species Interaction

Understand food chains through species interaction. Learn from the teachings of biologist Verne Lehmberg.

How?

Owl Pellet Dissection

See the food chain in action by dissecting an owl pellet. Learn from the teachings of biologist Verne Lehmberg.

Start

The Curated Library

Use the Curated Library to compare and contrast different perspectives on an issue that interests you.

Search!

Part Three

HOW DOES THIS CLASS RELATE TO REAL-WORLD ISSUES?

Inquiry Media

Does one individual matter?

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Canada at a Crossroads

NEW: Inquiry Media Series

This five-part story will be featured across each of the first five chapters of Nature Labs and will ask students to explore the question of how Canada can protect our economy and sovereignty while still addressing the other challenges of our time, including biodiversity, the climate, and reconciliation. (Chapter Three coming Dec. 1st)

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Further Exploration

Latest News

Newfoundland & Labrador Election: #9 – What does this mean?

News
https://youtu.be/WBezlG0trxg An overview of the Newfoundland and Labrador election with your host, Simon Jackson. ICYMI - Here's a playlist of the previous updates from last night: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLghJkRMPFsTgqMFeaqyW_2mouT4hxz5ZC
Read more

Newfoundland & Labrador Election: #8 – The Results

News
https://youtu.be/YYq2zz6KEmU An overview of the Newfoundland and Labrador election with your host, Simon Jackson.
Read more

Newfoundland & Labrador Election: #7 – Bridging Divides

News
https://youtu.be/rBTIKrlpI7U An overview of the Newfoundland and Labrador election with your host, Simon Jackson. The Life and Times of Honorable, Dr. Donald H. Oliver, CM, ONS,...
Read more
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Resources From the Curated Library

Wolverine populations at risk without connectivity

Wolverine populations at risk without connectivity Sub-Category: Carrying Capacity Source: Rocky Mountain Outlook File Type: Article Overview: Wolverine populations at risk without...

The True Value of Ecosystem Services

The True Value of Ecosystem Services Sub-Category: Ecosystems Source: Our World File Type: Article/Video Overview: The true value of ecosystem services Web Link: https://ourworld.unu.edu/en/recognising-the-true-value-of-ecosystem-services
More From the Curated Library

Food Chains and Carrying Capacity

Science Resources
Review this lesson's key concepts and terms, before testing your knowledge below. BiodiversityDownload Food Chains and Carrying CapacityDownload What is carrying capacity? What three factors influence an ecosystem's...
Read more
17%
Unit completion

Chapters

Chapter One

The System of Things

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Chapter Five

Here’s How

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Chapter Nine

Own Your Hypocrisy

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Chapter Two

The Context of It All

You are here!

Chapter Six

Your Turn

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Chapter Ten

Keep Going

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Chapter Three

We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know

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Chapter Seven

Dig Deeper

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Chapter Eleven

One Last Thing

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Chapter Four

Hard Stuff is Hard

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Chapter Eight

Be Better

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Chapter Twelve

The End (of the Beginning)

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